Printing machine



March 13, 19343 c. B. WILKES, JR

PRINTING MACHINE Filed May 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Snuen/of March 131934. B, w gs, JR 1,950,585

PRINTING MACHINE Filed May 20, 1929' Z'Sheec's-Shet 2 Jlllll-IlllllllPatented Mar. 13, 1334 .4 1 STATES PRINTING MACHHNE Charles B. Wilkes,.iru, St. Louis, lvfio. Application May 20, 1929, Serial No. 364.38%)

' 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in printing machines, and moreparticularly to printing machines comprising a plurality of printingcouples each having a platen cooperating with a printing drum, in whichthe platens are jointly controlled for release and resetting by the feedof paper to the machine. An object of the invention is to provide aprinting machine of the type in which the printing is eifected by aseries of printing couples arranged in sequence. with meansforcontrolling the shifting of the platen to printing and nonprintingposition dependent upon and controlled by the paper feed to the machine.

Another object of the invention is to simplify, in a-machine of theclass mentioned, the platen control whereby the same is positivelyactuated iii in coordination withthe paper feeding mecha nism to effecta non-printing adjustment when paper fails to feed to the machine and toeffect a printing adjustment when paper feeds to the machine. I

Additional advantages of the construction will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 isa contracted partiallydiagrammatic view of the platen controlling mechanism in a set positionfor printing operation.

Fig. 2 is a view of the same parts illustrating the non-printingposition. v

Fig. 3' is a detailed view of one of theplaten controls in associationwith the actuator for the plurality of. controls in the printingposition. 35 Fig. 4 is a view of the same parts in a nonprintingposition. i

Fig. 5 is a cross section illustrating the association of theactuator-for the platen control mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a view, partially in horizontal section, illustrating theplaten mounting and the paper control device.

Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6.

- As illustrated'in the drawings, the machine comprises a plurality ofprinting drums 1 (Fig. 1) of the usual construction in which the drumrotates in a machine frame and has provision for supporting a typesegment for direct printing or for printing through a fabric. The drums1 extend transversely of the machine frame and are arranged on parallelaxes longitudinally of the frame and driven from any 56 suitable sourcein unison. Associated with each drum and forming therewith a printingcouple is a platen and, as the mounting of each platen and itsconstruction is substantially the same, only one has been shown in thedrawings (Fig. 6'), to which reference is made for an understanding ofthe construction and mounting of each of the platens.

The platen, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, comprises a platenroller 2 mounted on a shaft 3 with which it may be adjustably con:nected by an Oldham coupling 4. The shaft 3 has an extension 5 journaledin the side memher 6 of the machine frame. The axes of the shaft 3 andthe extension 5 are eccentric and, therefore, as the extension 5 isrotated, the adjustment of the platen in respect of the printing drum ischanged or shifted from printing position to non-printing position, andfrom nonprinting to printing position. The platen may be driven from agear 7 connected with the drum so that the drum and platen rotate to-,gether. This construction of -the platen, its mounting and associationwith the drum to form a printing couple, is of usual and knownconstruction' and its function and operation, as thus far described,will be readily recognized as common to the art. 7

The extension 5 extends through an opening 8 in the side frame 6, theopening constituting a journal for the shaft extension 5 which carrieson its end a cylindrical collar 9. It will be understood that the shaft3 and the extension 5 remain stationary during rotation of the platen,the platen rotating freely on the shaft 3. When the extension 5 isshifted the axis of the shaft 3 is raised or lowered away from ortowardthe periphery of the drum, thereby determining the space between theface of the platen and the drum. When in close adjustment with the drumthe tym imprints on paper fed across the platen, but when no paper isfed to the couple the platen lowers out of contact with the surface ofthe drum and, therefore, prevents offsetting onto the platen. it isshifting of the platen in each of the couples, under the control of thepaper fed to the first couple, which is broadly the novelty of thepresent invention, and the construction, association and arrangement ofparts by which this is ac complished will now be described.

The shaft 3 is rocked to raise and lower the platen through mechanismcooperatively related to the-paper feedingmechanism. It is held inlatched adjustment when paper feeds to the no first couple. and thelatch is released to permit the rocking of the shaft 3 when no paperadvances to the first couple. I A plate 10 fits against the end face ofthe member 9, said plate having a pair of arcuate slots 11 and handles12 by which it may be adjusted. An arm 13 fits over the plate 10 and thearm and plate are held in clamped relationship with the member 9 by ascrew 14, that threads into the end of the shaft extension 5. The arm13, the plate 10 and member 9 may be relatively adjusted and held inadjusted position by a screw 15 passing through the arm 13, the

arcuate slots 11 in the plate 10, and into the face of the member 9. Inthe periphery of the member 9 of each of the platens there is a notch 16having a vertical shoulder 17 and an inclined shoulder 18.

In the instance of the platen of the first couple the member 9 and,therefore, the shaft 3 and extension 5 are held against rockingmovement, and released for rocking movement by a latch lever 19 pivotedon the end of a shaft 20 extending laterally of the frame of the machineforward of paper feed rollers 21 and 22. The latch lever 19 is mountedin a bracket 23 which bracket is rigid with and turns as the shaft 20 isrocked. The lever 19 has a short arm 24 between which and the face ofthe bracket 23 is interposed an expansion spring 25, the tendency of thespring 25 being to elevate the short arm of lever 19 and thereby depressa forward extremity 26 of said lever. The

forward extremity 26 of the lever 19 is adapted to constitute the latchelement in cooperation with the notch 16, the vertical forward edge ofsaid extremity 26 seating against and being frictionally held in contactwith the vertical shoulder 1'7 of the notch when the latch lever is ger27 operates.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be noted that as the paper feeds betweenthe rollers 21 and 22, the finger 27 is depressed and the bracket 23 isheld in position so that the latch 26 is in the notch 16 and inengagement with the shoulder 17. A set screw 31 is provided for angularadjustment of the latch, so that it assumes its proper latching positionwhen paper feeds to the machine. When no paper feeds between the rollers21 and 22, the finger 2'! raises to the position clearly shown in Fig. 4of the drawings, causing the shaft 20 to tend to rock as a result'of theweight 28 moving downwardly. This action rocks the bracket 23 to theposition shown in Fig. 4, when the head 26 of the latch lever 19 movesout of the notch 16.

The action of the control for the couples, other than the first couple,is similar to the latch device described, except that instead of thebracket 23' there are provided modified forms of brackets for thesubsequent couples, said brackets beng designated by the referencenumeral 32. The brackets 32 are pivoted on stud shafts 33 supported inthe frame of the machine.

All of the latch devices, as well as the means for rocking the arms 13,are controlled from a cam device mounted on a rotating member of thepaper feeding mechanism in timed relationship with the printingmechanism, or from a constantly driven shaft.

It will be noted that the cam device is mounted on a shaft 36 which maybe driven by a hexible connection to the pulley 37. On the shaft 36 is aplurality of cam plates 38, 39 and 40 having corresponding faces butpositioned in respect of each other at 120 degrees to provide for thesequential action of the platen controlling mechanism. On a stud shaft41 is a series of levers 42, 43 and 44, each having a roller 45cooperating with the respective cams 38, 39 and 40. The lower or longarm of each of the levers 42,43 and 44 is normally drawn forward by a'retractile spring 46 connected with the respective levers. The forwardend of the springs 46 are connected with a rod or some permanent part ofthe machine. A rod 47 conmeets the lower end of the lever 42 with thelower end of the arm 13 of the first couple, the extremity of said rod47 having pivot connection at its opposite ends respectively with saidarm 42 and the arm 13. Thus, as the shaft 36 rotates and the roller 45rides on the high face of thecam 38, a pull is exerted on the rod 47 inopposition to the spring 46 and the arm 13 oscillates a slight degreeclockwise, releasing the shoulder 17 from contact end 26 of the latchlever 19. When paper is passing through the machine the latch lever,however, cannot rise entirely out of the notch and will prevent the arm13, the shaft 3 and the extension 5 from rocking, thereby maintainingthe platen in close adjustment with the drum. However, when paper failsto pass between the rollers 21 and 22, the bracket 23 rocks, tending toraise the forward end thereof to the position shown in Fig.

4 of the drawings moving the latch lever out of contact with the notch16, and the spring 46 exerts a push on the rod 47 rocking the arm 13,and thereby rocking the shaft 3 as its eccentric extension 5 rocks. Thisaction carries the platen downwardly out of close contact with the drumand prevents ofisetting from the drum to'the platen periphery. It willbe understood that this movement occurs as the roller 45 moves to thelow face of the cam "8. When the cam 38 again contacts with the roller45 and the roller moves to the high face-of the cam a. pull will beexerted on the rod 47 and will restore the arm 13 to the position shownin Fig. 3. The oscillation of the arm 13 and, as a consequence, therocking of the shaft 3 will occur so long as no paper is fed to themachine, but as soon as the paper passes through the space between therollers 21 and 22, the latch lever will be again depressed and will fallinto the notch 16 pre- -venting the further rocking of the shaft 3,thereby maintaining the platen in cl use contact with the drum of thecouple.

The remaining platen controls of the series are similarly connected withthe remaining cam plates. The arm 43 is connected with the arm 13 of thesecond platen control by a rod 48, and the arm 44 is connected with thearm 13 of the third platen control by a rod 49. Each of the rods 48 and49 operates to control the oscillation of its respective arms 13 in themanner described in respect of the arm 13' of the first platen control.The control of the latches for the second and third platen control is byconnection with the arm 13 of the first platen control through rods 50and 51, respectively. The operation of the latches of the second andthird platen controls differ somewhat from the operation of the latchfor the first platen control in that when the arm 13 of the first platencontrol is carried to release position, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4of the drawings, the rod 50 is moved forward and rocks the bracket 32 ofthe second platen control to elevate the forward end thereof, placing atension on the spring 35 which serves to move the long arm of the latchlever outof the notch 16 when a pull is exerted on the rod 48 todisengage the head 26 of the latch from the shoulder 1'7. The oppositemovement of the rod 48 serves to oscillate the arm 13 of the secondplaten control in the same manner as described in respect of theoscillation of the arm 13 of the first platen control.

The sequence of the operation is controlled by the position of the camson the shaft 36.

The third platen control is operated from the second platen control inthe same manner as that described in connection with the operation ofthe second platen control from the first platen control.

From the foregoing description of the con-- struction it will beunderstood that the operation of the device is, briefiy, as follows:

Assuming first no paper is fed between the rollers 21 and 22, the finger27 will be raised into.

the notch in the upper roller 22 above the periphery of the roller 21.This rocks the shaft 20, tending to raise the forward end of the bracket23. The latch will remain in contact in the notch 16 as it isfrictionally held by the shoulder 17 operating against the end of thelatch. The arm 13 then oscillates so that the upper end thereof movesclockwise by a pull exerted on the rod 47 as the roller 45 rides on thehigh face of the cam 38, thus releasing the latch so that it may beforced upwardly by the weight 28 moving the forward end of the bracket23, the pressure of the set screw 31 forcing the head 26 of latch lever19 out of the notch. As the rod 48 moves in the opposite direction whenthe roller 45 rides the low face of the cam 38, the rod 47 movesforwardly by the spring 46 and forces the arm 13 to rock the extension5, thereby rocking the shaft 3 downwardly. This movement, in turn, setsthe'brackets 32 of the second and third couple and they, in turn, areoperated similarly to released position.

None of the latches will re-engage to hold the platen in closeadjustment with the drums until paper is fed between the rollers 21 and22. When paper is fed between the rollers 21 and 22 the finger 27 isdepressed against the gravity pull of the weight 28, and the bracket 23movesv to a position so that the latch for the first couple is inposition to be moved to its seat by the spring25, and the arm 13 of thefirst couple is restored to vertical position and the latch holds theparts in printing position.

As a result of the assumption of printing position of the first couple,the brackets 32 of the second and third couple are carried to a positionso that the respective latches will seat through the depression of thelatch arms by the springs 34 in sequence, depending upon the action ofthe cams 39 and 40, respectively, with the rollers on the arms 43 and44, respectively.

Therefore, it is apparent that by means of the paper fed to the firstcouple the couples in se- I am aware that the invention may be modifledin certain particulars without departing from the nature and scope ofthe invention. 1

do not limit myself, therefore, to the exact invention shown anddescribed, but what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a printing machine, comprising a plurality of printing coupleseach including a printing platen, means for shifting the platen toprinting and non-printing position, connections for operating saidshifting means, a cam device operable in timed relationship with thepaper feed for actuating said connections, and a latch device for eachplaten under the unitary control of paper feed to the first platencontrolling the shifting movement of said platens.

2. In a printing machine comprisinga plurality of printing couples, eachincluding a printing platen, means for shifting the platen to printingand non-printing positions, and a latch for holding-the platen inprinting position, a sheet detector associated with the paper feed foreffecting the release of each of said latches, and a cam adapted tocause the operation of said means sequentially.

3. In a printing machine comprising a plurality of printing couples,each including a printing platen, a connection for shifting the platento printing and non-printing positions, a resilient member adapted tomove said connection to shift the platen to non-printing position, a camadapted to move the connection to shift the platen to printing position,and a latch to hold the platen in printing position, unitary ing platen,means to eccentrically rotate the platen to place it in printing andnon-printing positions, and'a latch for holding the platen in printingposition, .a sheet detector associated with the paper feed for effectingthe release of each of said latches, and a cam adapted to cause theoperation of said means sequentially.

5. In a printing machine comprising a plurality of printing couples,each including a printing platen, means for shifting the platen toprinting and non-printing positions, and a latch for holding the platenin printing position, a sheet detector for directly effecting therelease of the latch to the first platen, and means controlled by theposition of the next preceding platen respectively to release, the latchof each of the other platens, said means including for each succeedinglatch a rotatable bracket having balanced springs engaging the latch anda connection between the bracket and the preceding platen for rotatingthe bracket.

6. In a printing machine comprising a pinrality of printing couples,each including'a printing platen, a connection for shifting the platento printing and non-printing positions, a resilient member adapted tomove said connection to shift the platen to non-printing position, a camadapted to move the connection to shift the platen to printing position,and a latch to hold the platen in printing position, a shaft operable,in timed relationship with the paper feed for supporting and operatingthe cams, and means controlled by the paper feed for releasin thelatches.

7. In a machine of the class described com prising a plurality ofprinting couples each including a platen, mechanism for shifting theplatens to printing, and non-printing position, means under the controlof the feed of the paper to the first couple of said. mechanism tomaintain the platens in printing position when paper is fed to themachine and to release the platens tonQn-printing position when paperfails to feed, automatic means for actuating said mechanism to restorethe platens to printing position after they have assumed non -printingposition, and timing mechanism for controlling said restoring means.

8. In a machine of the class described comprising a plurality ofprinting couples each ineluding a platen, mechanism for shifting theplatens to printing and non-printing position, means under the controlof the feed of the paper to the first couple of said mechanism tomaintain the platens in printing position when paper is fed to themachine and to release the platens in sequence to non-printing positionwhen paper fails to feed, automatic means for actuating said mechanismto restore the platens to printing position after they have assumednon-printing position, and timing mechanism for controlling saidrestoring means.

9. In a machine of the class described comprising a plurality ofprinting couples each including a platen, mechanism for shifting theplatens to printing and non-printing position, means under the controlof the feed of the paper to the first couple of said mechanism tomaintain the platens in printing position when paper is fed to themachine and to release the platens to non-printing position when paperfails to feed, automatic means for actuating said mechanism to restorethe platens in sequence to printing position after they have assumednon-printingposition, and timing mechanism for controlling saidrestoring means.

CHARLES B. WILKES, JR.

